6/25/11
Last updated: 6/24/11 2:20 PM
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Dialed In just held eventual Preakness winner Shackleford
(inside) by a head to take the Florida Derby
(Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos) |
Grade 1 hero DIALED IN (Mineshaft) will have surgery next week on a
chip in his right knee and will be taken out of training for a
undetermined period of time, according to Hall of Fame trainer Nick
Zito.
“Dialed In will be out of training for awhile. He has a chip in the
right knee. We noticed there was something different with the knee,”
Zito said in a statement. “Dr. Migliacci took some pictures, X-rays, on
the 25th of May, which was after the Preakness (G1) and there was no
problem, but there is now. Dr. Bramlage will do the surgery next week
and he will be back in training soon.”
Dialed In stamped himself early on as a Triple Crown contender,
breaking his maiden last November under the Twin Spires and then making
his three-year-old bow a 1 1/2-length victory in the Holy Bull S. (G3).
Zito saddled his charge against older rivals in an optional claimer next
out, and the dark bay colt responded with a nice half-length second to
stablemate and Alysheba S. (G3) third Equestrio (Elusive
Quality).
Dialed In gutted out a head score in the Florida Derby (G1) over
eventual Preakness winner Shackleford (Forestry) to stamp
his ticket to the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1), where he finished eighth as
the 5-1 favorite. He did better in the Preakness last out, running
fourth, and had been pointing for the Travers S. (G1) on August 27 at
Saratoga.
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“(Owner) Bob LaPenta and I, and all my staff, were looking forward to the
Travers,” Zito admitted. “Unfortunately, that will not happen. I am grateful
that he was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby and ran in the Preakness for the
$5 million bonus. But I am disappointed, along with Bob, that he did not get a
fair chance in those races. Hopefully as a four-year-old he will get back to
where he belongs.”
